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Windows 10 rolled out their anniversary update edition on August 2nd .You don’t have to do anything to get the Windows 10 Anniversary Update, it will roll out automatically to you through Windows Update if you’ve chosen to have updates installed automatically on your device starting with newer PC’s.

There are many tips and tricks to be discovered the more we use this operating system. There is still one annoyance for me on my personal PC at home.

Wouldn’t you like to log into your Windows account at home with out a password? It can be done.

First, log into your Windows 10 user account as you normally do by entering your password at the login screen. Next, click Start (or tap the Windows Key on your keyboard) and type netplwiz. The “netplwiz” command will appear as a search result in the Start Menu search. Hit Enter on your keyboard or click on the result to open it.

A new window labeled “User Accounts” will appear, listing all user accounts on the PC. Click on your user account to select it and uncheck the box labeled “Users must enter a user name and password to use this computer.”

You’ll be prompted to enter the user account’s password (this is a safeguard to ensure that other users on the PC can’t change the settings for accounts they don’t have access to). Enter your account’s password and then click OK to close the window.

Finally, test the new setting by saving all open work and rebooting your PC. If all steps above were performed correctly, Windows 10 should bypass the login screen and load directly into your user account without prompting you for the account’s password.

This and lot more tips and tricks will be available in class called Windows 10; Ask the Expert. Come and meet Rod our local guru in all things Windows 10. And bring your questions…Win10 seminar

YOUR PHOTOS ARE ONE OF YOUR MOST CHERISHED POSSESSIONS.

Photos tell the stories of our lives.

However, in this chaotic, rapid and ever-changing digital landscape, our photos are scattered across multiple devices, in numerous boxes tucked in a closet and stored in outdated media. They’re disorganized, vulnerable, and in some cases, inaccessible.

Save Your Photos Month is the direct result of witnessing devastating losses many people experienced after natural disaster struck their communities. Wild fires, gas explosions, hurricanes, tornadoes, and other natural disasters are a constant in the daily news. Natural disasters or human error will always be a threat to your photo collection. We can help you safeguard your memories so you can prevent the loss of these irreplaceable treasures.

Print this off and keep as a handy reference in your backpack or pocket. Watch for some out in field photo excursions in June and July. Info courtesy of Pic Monkey

Aperture

Aperture is all about light, numbers, and the sixth letter of the alphabet. Keeping track of how those things combine can be tricky, especially if you’re new to photography or haven’t had enough coffee. Take a look at the aperture section of this cheat sheet and determine which f stop suits your purpose.

Shutter speed

Is your shutter feeling the need, the need for speed? It better, if you’re after an outstanding action shot. But it should probably go slow if you’re looking for some beautimous motion blurring. To make sure you know just how fast or slow your shutter should go, we’ve included this handy shutter speed section on the cheat sheet.

ISO

Check out the ISO section of this cheat sheet to get an idea of the proper degree of light sensitivity for the setting. ISO settings range depending on the camera, but “normal” is said to be between 200 and 1,600. The lower the number, the less sensitive your camera’s sensor or film will be to light.

Exposure

If you’ve ever seen the exposure triangle, you know that exposure has to do with ISO, shutter speed, and aperture. On this cheat sheet, the exposure section is all about your light meter. Use it to remember whether that + or – in your display means your image will be over or underexposed, and adjust your shutter speed and aperture accordingly.

Now that summer is approaching, our travel and leisure time away from all the hustle and activities of school, and sports are upon us. This time of year, before the dog days of summer and heat, are the best time in Austin to explore your city.

If you haven’t checked out the National Park IMax movie at the Bob Bullock Museum you need to put it on your list. The Bullock also has a nice photographic exhibit on Big Bend. It is always interesting to see what other travelers and hikers see that you missed.

In Austin, there are many new street art murals popping up. We have some very talented artists in our city and they need to be documented before they are defaced.

Here is a quick guide to some of the more famous sites. Infographic courtesy of the freepeople blog.

I found this one on Comal and 4th.

Take you phone, lock the focus, and expose for the wall not the light behind it.

Stayed tuned for more tips on taking street art in the next blog. Join us in June for photo editors and photo storage classes.

“Hack” is shorthand for a shortcut or a trick that can make your life easier. They can apply to any area of life, from cooking to cleaning to dining out. And, they are not only innovative approaches to tackling life’s challenges, but entertaining as well. We’ve taken a look around and come up with a list of hacks you can use when planning your next trip.

TECH TIPS

In a rental car, look at the little icon for the gas pump. The direction the gas handle is pointing is the side of the car where you put your gas in.

Put your smartphone on “airplane mode” to make it charge faster.

Forgot your phone charger attachment or have the wrong voltage? Power up by plugging your cord into the USB port found on the back of most hotel TVs.

Take a photo with your phone of where you park your car at the airport. That way, you can remember where your car is.

Take a photo of your rental car for scratches and dings BEFORE you leave the lot.

If on a road trip, take a photo of your car’s license so you have it when you register at your hotel.

Can’t hear the alarm clock? Set the alarm on your smartphone and put it in an empty glass near your bed. The sound will be amplified.

Take photos with your smartphone as you pack so you have a visual inventory of what you’ve packed, just in case your bags get lost.

Take an HDMI cord to connect your laptop, phone, or tablet to the hotel TV. You can then stream your favorite NETFLIX movie, Amazon Prime or other services you might have. We are addicted to MhZ Choice for International Mysteries.

MAKE DO WITH WHAT YOU HAVE

Use Google Maps even when you don’t have phone service. When you are online, find the point of interest (like your hotel) and load its profile. Tap the three dots in the top right corner, then click “Save offline map.” When offline, locate the place in the Google Maps app under “Your Places.”

Did you know you can use a shoe to open a wine bottle? Here’s how: Remove foil. Place bottom of bottle inside the shoe (works best with a brogue or something similar). Find a sturdy wall (brick or concrete) and repeatedly bang the shoe sole (containing the wine bottle) against it. Use force and expect to repeat banging motion about 20 times. The cork will eventually emerge.

Smartphone + empty toilet roll = instant boom box.

If you cannot do any of the above tips, please come to the lab. You can schedule either a one on one with your phone or take one of our classes.

If you live in central Texas this is the best time of year. Indian Paint Brushes, Poppies and Bluebonnets to name a few are in abundance on the highways and in the pastures.

Even if you have hunted down the perfect flower last year, this years crop is different.

For poppies right now, Georgetown and Castroville are in full bloom. Tips on cameras- this one was taken with a phone. Get close, push your finger on the focus spot, wait and then either use a voice command or your ear buds to remotely take the snap.

TX 16 is on fire according to a report on Facebook

Roadsides just before Babyhead Mountain were covered with a mix of bluebonnets and paintbrush. This has expanded over the weekend to include all the way down to the intersection with CR-215.

Farther south of Llano along Texas 16 to RR-1323 there are now numerous long stretches of roadside fairly covered with either bluebonnets or a mix.

Camera Settings

When you photograph flowers, shoot in Aperture Priority mode. This enables you to control your depth of field. When you’re shooting lots of wildflowers, you have two options: You can create a photograph where every flower is in sharp focus or where the flowers in front of the scene are in focus and the rest of the image is a dreamy blur.

To create the first type of photograph, use a small aperture and focus one-third to halfway into the field of wildflowers. This ensures that the entire field of flowers will be in focus.

Create a dreamy look by shooting with a large aperture (small f-stop number). Focus on the flowers nearest the camera, and the distant flowers will be a creamy blur.

Use a fast shutter speed as the wind is always blowing and you can stop the action.